Michele Hluchy discovered that most jobs and many internships in the environmental industry require a 40-hour OSHA-approved training course in dealing with hazardous materials. Partnering with Thomas Barnett, from ABB Preheater, Inc., she developed a course students can take to fulfill that requirement. This slide is from her presentation about it at the 2007 workshop on Preparing Future Geoscience Professionals.

Internships

Internships offer opportunities for students to get a taste of what it's like to work as a geoscientist. They also offer opportunities for departments and employers to forge mutually beneficial relationships.

For employers

Designing a successful internship program requires thoughtful planning, just like any other learning exercise. As with other learning situations, internships work best when all parties involved are clear about the goals and expectations, when the work is meaningful and relevant for the student, when the 'instructor' provides sufficient explanations about how to do the work and is available to answer questions, and when the student is motivated. Read more about this.

Examples of internship programs

Ready to create an internship program at your college or university, but looking for examples so you don't have to reinvent the wheel? Here are a few.